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Dunks, Doubles, Doping: How Steroids are Killing American Athletics | 
 enlarge | Author: Nathan Jendrick
Publisher: The Lyons Press
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $2.42
You Save: $20.53 (89%)
New (36) Used (17) from $2.42
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 614133
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9 x 5.8 x 1
ISBN: 1592289029
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.29
EAN: 9781592289028
ASIN: 1592289029
Publication Date: April 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, - how many professional athletes have put their careers on the line by using a substance officially banned from their sport? And why do they do it? Despite the headlines, steroid use continues to be popular among professional athletes, and is now attracting a younger user base. Nearly 20 percent of male college students have used some form of the drug, often just to make themselves more physically attractive. For professional athletes, however, stronger could mean a bigger pay check, faster could translate to twice the signing bonus, and tougher could be the difference between the minor leagues and the pro ranks. The one thing that is safe to assume, author Nathan Jendrick contends, is that as long as money is fuelling attendance, pay checks, and fame, athletes will continue to look for a secret edge. This poses a dilemma for many atheltes and the people who pay them. Is a steroid user a cheater, or simply gaining an advantage from recent advances in science? Does a baseball fan care more about whether his favourite player is "doping," or does he just want to see the home run hit deeper into the stands? To answer these questions, Jendrick talks with Olympic athletes, professional bodybuilders, and doctors to examine the mindset behind steroid use, the mental and physical side effects, and how sport federations essentially allow doping to occur. He takes a look at famous athletes who have been caught, and what happened to their careers after the truth came out. "Dunks, Doubles, Doping" is a timely and objective look at steroids and their use in American sports. It is a cautionary tale about how the desire for superhuman performance on the playing fields can be as good as putting a syringe in a player's hand. It provides a timely coverage of this controversial subject.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 An EXCEPTIONAL Read June 30, 2007
Every single day I turn on the news, there's some new piece about steroids in sports. People are dying, children are crying, all that. But I always wondered why the news NEVER talked about the studies proving all of these nasty things really happen... after reading this book, I FINALLY understand. Because the media is full of crap! I really enjoyed this book and learned a ton from it. It is a bit outdated in that the IOC is now 4:1 and not 6:1 in T/E, but the points are all still valid. Highly recommended!
 Nice and smooth... like a shot of steroids! June 27, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I thought it was a pretty good read... pretty honest. The guy below who said it's smug I think is a little off. Shouldn't it be smug? The book is right. The book uses science, when the media folk use opinion. I think it SHOULD be smug and should scream "I AM RIGHT!" but that's just me. I've used steroids. I'm not dead. I won't die from steroids. This book is a breathe of fresh air. And I think the reason why steroids are killing athletics is because of how kids are looking at the games now. that's bad for the athletic organizations and the games.
I gave it four stars because I think the doctor with a sales pitch is annoying. Otherwise it's pretty good.
 How Are Steroids Killing American Athletics? June 26, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Nathan Jendrick takes the reader on a wide range of issues surrounding the use of steroids in sports and by the general public.
While his chapters seem just a bit smug - almost saying, "I am right because I am the one who has the real information" - the book has highs and lows based on who is being interviewed. And just for future reference, the spelling of the late Curt Hennig's name was not correct.
The top sections belong to Olympic champion Gary Hall - who feels that there should be a zero tolerance policy when athletes test positive for illegal drugs - to the final chapter on the potential of gene therapy as a means to take the "game" to the next scientific level.
A doctor who discusses a new psychological approach for athletes seemingly has a promotional pitch to explore and purchase his product.
The bodybuilder - featured in a recent cable special on steroids - wants to settle grudges he has against the industry. Who cares if some male bodybuilders earn extra cash by allegedly posing at parties for gay men. What does that issue have to do with the topic?
An attorney questions why professional athletes have seemingly avoided prosecution in steroid cases, while members of the general public have felt the wrath from the judicial system. But it is naive to assume that the power of the various leagues and organizations in this country will not do everything in its power to prevent their athletes being front-page fodder, being led away in handcuffs due to alleged drug transgressions.
The athletes outlined who feel remorse for their steroid use is laughable. If they weren't caught cheating I am sure they wouldn't have such tearful confessions.
While there is information that rarely is covered in major media sources, Jendrick never gets around to telling the reader, "How Steroids are Killing American Athletics."
Rather, it seems as if Jendrick leans to making the use of steroids legal for those age 21 and over, but reserving the right for governing athletic bodies to continue to make such usage illegal by its competitors.
An Informative and Easy Read... May 19, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed reading Dunks Doubles & Doping - it provided an objective insight into the effects of steroids on Olympic and professional sports. Jendrick's perspective is not flatly really pro-steroids, but rather pro-legalization for the mass market (cosmetic use by adults), while still keeping them illegal for competition in sports, which he goes on to explain and justify rather nicely. There are many points in the book where you find yourself saying "Hmm, I didn't know that!" For me, perhaps the most disappointing thing I learned was confirmation from various sources that all or nearly all professional bodybuilders use steroids and/or HGH.
The Interview with Gregg Valentino (and his enormous arms) was definitely a fun read. I also found the Doping sections in Chapters 13/14 quite interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about steroids, their effect on athletes, and on sports in general.
Like a boulder rolling down a hill... May 4, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
... this book nails the haters in the sack. Like a slam dunk or a quarterback sack, this book hits hard. Figured the hype was overated but its actually good stuff. Probably 4 1/2 stars is most accurate because I would have liked to see more stuff on the pro wrestlers, but for what its after it accomplishes. Definitely was educated by reading this.
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